Shall we then commit everything to the care of the men, and nothing to the care of the women?
How shall we do so?
It is therefore, I imagine, as we say, that one woman, too, is fitted by natural genius for being a physician, and another is not; one is naturally a musician, and another is not.
(From “The Republic” of Plato, translated by Spens.)
But tell me with reference to him who, accurately speaking, is a physician, whom you now mentioned, whether he is a gainer of money or one who taketh care of the sick? and speak of him who is really a physician.
One who taketh care, said he, of the sick.
Why then, said I, no physician as far as he is a physician, considers what is advantageous for the physician, nor enjoins it, but what is advantageous for the sick; for it hath been agreed that the accurate physician is one who taketh care of sick bodies, and not an amasser of wealth. Hath it not been agreed?
He assented.
(Plato, 428–547 B. C., translated by Spens.)